Isaiah 24-47 Week 6

Choice 4:  Isaiah 33–34. Who “Shall Dwell with Everlasting Burnings”? 

(a) Read the chapter summaries for Isaiah 33–34 and the institute student manual commentary for Isaiah 33:14–15, “Who ... Shall Dwell with Everlasting Burnings?” 

As you contemplate the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, what thoughts do you have? What do you imagine it will be like? 

I believe that it will be a scary time with wars, natural disasters, earthquakes, famine, false doctrines, and iniquity will abound. Horrible things will be going on around me.

In what ways is Isaiah 33:14–16 a message of hope?  It simply says that those that are righteous will be protected.

Here is a wonderful video by Dallin H. Oaks regarding the 2nd coming from April 2004. 

This is a wonderful promise to the righteous and is comforting to consider.

(b) Write a brief definition for each of the following phrases from Isaiah 33:15:

“Walketh righteously” & “Speaketh uprightly”-means to keep the commandments in all of our thoughts, deeds, and actions.  Be a good example for all to see.

“Despiseth the gain of oppressions"-means to be honest in all our doings with our fellowman.

“Shaketh his hands from holding of bribes”-means to be fair and open with our fellowman. 

“Stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood”-means to not find fault in others, show respect, and not gossip.

“Shutteth his eyes from seeing evil”-means to look for the good in others and help them instead of hinder them with our criticisms.

Isaiah 1-23 Week 5

Choice 1:
Qa. Isaiah is the only book of scripture that the Lord commanded by name that we should read and search diligently .  If you were to explain to someone who didn’t understand Isaiah, and you could only emphasize three helps from this chapter, record which three you would choose and why.

A. 1. Not just read, but study and search by prayerfully pondering Isaiah’s teachings, analyzing them, and relating them to other scriptures.  This is important because we need to take the time and effort to learn and understand how he writes.

2. Become familiar with the geography of the Holy Land and surrounding regions which will help us understand where events took place and how far it was between towns and even battles between two cities and people.

3. Live your life in accordance with being able to have the Spirit of prophecy, which is having an understanding of the Gospel, and then being worthy to receive the Spirit to help interpret Isaiah’s writings.  This is important because we will not be able to understand Isaiah's writings without the Spirit.  Nephi taught that the words, "are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy." (2 Nephi 25:4)  It behooves us to live worthy for the Spirit if we want to understand his important writings.

Qb. The prophet Nephi quoted from the book of Isaiah as did the Savior when He ministered to the Nephites. In doing so they identified some of the major themes of the book of Isaiah. From what you read, list the prevalent themes in the book of Isaiah.

A. Some of the prevalent themes of Isaiah are testifying of the coming of Christ and his work.  He foretold a lot of future events, like the gathering of Israel and the New Jerusalem in America.  He also wrote about God and his required righteousness.

Ecclesiastes. Seeing Life Clearly.

Choice 2: 

(a)    The Bible Dictionary says:

The book of Ecclesiastes consists of reflections on some of the deepest problems of life, as they present themselves to the thoughtful observer.

The author describes himself as “son of David, king in Jerusalem”.

Ecclesiastes is written from the point of view of the world, everything is temporary and soon gone—nothing is permanent.

Ecclesiastes should not be construed as theological pronouncements on the condition of the soul after death; rather, they are observations by the Preacher about how things appear to men on the earth “under the sun.”

(b)   Read Ecclesiastes 1–2 and list five ways the author sought happiness but couldn’t find it. After each item on your list, write the reference of the verse where you found it.

1.       Knowledge/wisdom (1:8)

2.       Material things; a home & vineyard (2:4)

3.       Gardens/orchards which yielded fruit (2:5)

4.       A pond where trees could grow (2:6)

5.       Sought treasures/entertainers (2:8)

(c)    Read Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 and compare it with the principles that are taught in Mosiah 4:27; Doctrine and Covenants 10:4; 111:11; Luke 10:38–42. Write a paragraph describing why the timing and order of our activities are so important.

Our Heavenly Father knows how are life is supposed to go.  He puts things in our paths to help us follow along the timeline he has set for us.  He gives us agency to make and keep the commandments in hopes that they will help us make good choices.  As teen’s we are asked to follow for the strength of youth so that we can be worthy to go on missions and then marry in the temple.  Then we are supposed to have a family and continue striving to do what we asked to do.

What do you think the Lord wants you to accomplish during this “time and season” of your life?

I’ve chosen another path, by not attending school when I was younger.  This choice was not a good one, because now I’m sacrificing family/calling time doing schoolwork that I should have done 20 years ago.  It is my time to be a mom and serve in young women’s at church.  I’m here to help my kids and be there for them, as well as the young women in my ward.  There are many things I’d like to be doing, like genealogy, but that will have to wait until my schooling is done.

(d)   As you read Ecclesiastes 4–5, choose two principles to incorporate into your life. Write about them.

Ecclesiastes 4:13-It is better to be wise and grow spiritual strength and knowledge.  I will take time daily to read the scriptures as well as study my school work so that I can increase knowledge in all aspects of my life.

Ecclesiastes 5:2-Be careful with your words and think before you speak.  I’m really quick to judge and do not hold back my thoughts.  I need to wait and consider, before I say something that could hurt another.

(e) Read Ecclesiastes 12:7, 13–14 and answer the following questions:

What happens to us when we die?

Our bodies will be buried, and our spirits will return to Heavenly Father.

What is “the whole duty of man”?

The duty of man is our responsibility to follow God and his teachings.  To put first things first and do what we are supposed to do.

Why is this a good description of man’s purpose?

Man’s purpose is to return to live with Heavenly Father, only by following the Commandments are we able to return to Him.  It is our duty to do what is asked of us and then we will be rewarded with His presence.

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, & Job. The Jews delivered from Babylonian Captivity. Week 3.

The story says that King Ahasuerus was married to Vashati.  

He had a week long banquet for his noble friends and at the end of the week he, drunkenly, asks the chambermaids to get his wife to come and show off her royal crown.  Queen Vashati refuses to come and the King is very angry.  He asks his advisers what to do and one tells him to release Vashati as his queen and find another women to take her place.  King Ahasuerus listened to his guidance and Vashati lost her place as queen.  Vashati showed bravery when she went against the king’s wishes because she could have been killed.  She must have been a very proud woman and dignified and didn’t want to parade herself in front of a bunch of drunk men, no matter who asked her to.

Queen Vashati’s  refusal and exile brings Esther into the story.  

Esther was a beautiful Jewish woman, “And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.” (Esther 2:17)  She was informed by, her cousin, Mordecai, that there was a plot to murder the king by some of his own guards.  Esther told the king and the plot was foiled.  Mordecai then had King Ahasuerus’s trust and the King knew he could trust him and Esther.  Later, Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman, who had been appointed Prime Minister and Haman got very angry and decided to take vengeance on him and all Jew’s because of his actions.  Haman put out a decree that all Jews could be killed on a certain day, with the King’s approval.  When Mordecai learned of this plan, he mourned and fasted and finally he asked Esther to talk to the King and try to change his mind.  She was scared to go to the King, but Mordecai said to her, “Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.  For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”  She fasted for three days and nights and finally summoned the courage to speak to the King.  She was truly prepared to go before Him and in that time, the King’s heart was softened because of the fast, and in the end Haman was the one who was killed.  Because of her bravery, Esther was responsible for saving all the Jews.

In order for these events to happen, all 3 of these people had to listen to their hearts and then follow those promptings.  Vashati had to be brave and do what she felt to be right.  Mordecai was loyal and did what was right.  Esther overcame her fear and courageously stood up for what was right.  They showed bravery, loyalty and faith by praying for help and guidance.  I can be brave for standing up for the gospel and not being afraid to share it with my friends.  Our family has been asked to pray for families to teach and we’ve done it, but have not talked to the families yet because I’m afraid of rejection.  I will set a date to give my friend, that our family prayed for, a Book of Mormon.  I will show loyalty to my Heavenly Father and let him know that I will stand by Him and follow Him, by saying my personal prayers, morning and night, for the next 3 weeks.  I will show faith in the gospel by only watching uplifting and testimony building shows on TV. 

I know that these brave people stood for what they believed to be true and that I can learn from their example and strive to be more like them.